A commentary on Ecclesiastes

by Thomas Pelham Dale

“This will be found a very valuable aid to the right understanding of the Bible. It throws the whole Scripture narrative into one from the creation downwards, the author thus condensing Prideaux, Shuckford, and Russell, and in the most reverential manner bringing to his aid the writings of all modern annotators and chronologists. There are no lengthy comments, no visionary theories, nothing speculative; all is plain matter of fact, intelligibly stated. The book is one that should have a wide circulation amongst teachers and students of all denominations.”—Bookseller.

“Is a very compact summary of the Old Testament narrative, put together so as to explain the connection and bearing of its contents, and written in a very good tone; with a final chapter on the history of the Jews between the Old and New Testaments. It will be found very useful for its purpose. It does not confine itself to merely chronological difficulties, but comments briefly upon the religious bearing of the text also.”—Guardian.

“The handbook before us is so full and satisfactory, considering its compass, and sets forth the history of the old covenant with such conscientious minuteness, that it cannot fail to prove a godsend to candidates for examination in the Rudimenta Religionis as well as in the corresponding school at Cambridge.... In one of our dioceses the Scripture subjects for diocesan inspection this year included ‘the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve Patriarchs,’ and teachers were warned that the higher classes in the schools would be expected to evince a knowledge gathered from the source and not any secondary channels. But really we have tested the second book of this work with an eye to ascertaining whether a mastery of it would have served the teacher or pupil’s purpose; and our deliberate opinion is that it would, so careful is the survey, and so very rare the omission of a single point that is of any historical or doctrinal importance.... Throughout his work the writer of this ‘companion,’ ‘commentary,’ or ‘handbook,’ exhibits at the same time extensive research into the best sources of information and enlightenment as to the sacred history, and an independent, though cautious, judgment in his choice between conflicting theories and explanations.”—English Churchman.

FABLES RESPECTING THE POPES OF THE MIDDLE AGES. A Contribution to Ecclesiastical History. By John J. Ign. Von Döllinger. Translated, with Introduction and Appendices, by Alfred Plummer, M.A., Fellow and Tutor of Trinity College, Oxford. 8vo. 14s.

SKETCHES OF THE RITES AND CUSTOMS OF THE GRECO-RUSSIAN CHURCH. By H. C. Romanoff. With an Introductory Notice by the Author of “The Heir of Redclyffe.” Second Edition. Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d.

“The twofold object of this work is ‘to present the English with correct descriptions of the ceremonies of the Greco-Russian Church, and at the same time with pictures of domestic life in Russian homes, especially those of the clergy and the middle class of nobles;’ and, beyond question, the author’s labour has been so far successful that, whilst her Church scenes may be commended as a series of most dramatic and picturesque tableaux, her social sketches enable us to look at certain points beneath the surface of Russian life, and materially enlarge our knowledge of a country concerning which we have still a very great deal to learn.”—Athenæum.

“The volume before us is anything but a formal liturgical treatise. It might be more valuable to a few scholars if it were, but it would certainly fail to obtain perusal at the hands of the great majority of those whom the writer, not unreasonably, hopes to attract by the narrative style she has adopted. What she has set before us is a series of brief outlines, which, by their simple effort to clothe the information given us in a living garb, reminds us of a once popular childs’ book which we remember a generation ago, called ‘Sketches of Human Manners.’”—Church Times.

THE ARGUMENT DELIVERED BEFORE THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL. By Archibald John Stephens, LL.D., one of Her Majesty’s Counsel in the case of Thomas Byard Sheppard against William Early Bennett, Clerk. With an Appendix containing their Lordships’ Judgment. 8vo. 9s.

SERMONS ON CERTAIN OF THE LESS PROMINENT FACTS AND REFERENCES IN SACRED STORY. By Henry Melvill, B.D., late Canon of St. Paul’s, and Chaplain in Ordinary to the Queen. New Edition. Two vols. Crown 8vo. 5s. each.

“We are glad to see this new edition of what we have always considered to be Melvill’s best sermons, because in them we have his best thoughts.... Many of these sermons are the strongest arguments yet adduced for internal evidence of the veracity of the Scriptural narratives.”—Standard.